Assorting-machine



(No Model.)

S. M. PARK.

ASSORTING MACHINE.

Patented Aug. 21, 1883.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEicE.

SAMUEL M. PARK, ()F (lll (.\ti() ILLINOIS.

ASSORTING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 283,414, dated August21, 1883.

Application tiled December F, 1892.

had to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a view in sideelevation ofthe improved machine, a portion of the frame being brokenaway to exhibit certain of the parts in section. Fig. 2 is a view inside elevation of a modified form of the machine, a portion of the sideframe being broken away to better show in section the relation ofcertain of the parts. Figs. 3, 4, 5 are detail views of various kinds ofseparating device which may be used in the machine.

The invention relates to machines for assorting a promiscuous heap offeathers, bristles, lath, paper strips, or the like into several groupsor distinct portions, having the feathers, &c., in ach particular groupof substantially the same length, so that after being passed through themachine the feathers, &c., will be assembled inseveral portions,according to their respective size, and be in condition most convenientfor manipulation in manufacture of brushes or brooms, &c., as the casemay be, dependent upon the nature of the material assorted.

The invention relates particularly to im provements inassorting-machines of the kind described and shown in Letters Patent No.254,234, granted and issued to me, and bearing date the 28th day ofFebruary, A. D. 1882; and it consists in certain improvements in theconstruction thereof, all as hereinafter described, and distinctlydefined in claims following.

As is more fully described in said patent, the rectangular frame A has aseries of rolls, a, mounted transversely therein in substantiallyhorizontal planes, these rolls being free to revolve in suitablebearings in the frame, and carrying on the extended ends of their axlesdrivingpulleys 7), which are connected up by (No model.)

endless belts, so that all of the rolls may be rotated, and in the samedirection, from a common source, of power or line-shaft. The rolls (1are set in the frame at graduallwincreasing distance apart, thesedifferences in distance corresponding to the difference in size orlength of the various groups of feathers, into which it is desired toassert the heap. Immediately above the rolls a is preferably arranged acompanion series of rolls, a, oflike diameter therewith, mounted inbearings of frame A, so as to revolve freely and in direc tion oppositeto the rolls (I, through medium of gear-whecls c c, which are secured tothe extended ends ot'the axles of the rolls. tluideplates B are tittedin the rectangular frame of the machine, which plates, as shown, arepractically in even plane immediately above the bite of the sets ofrolls a. a, and extend from set to set, soas to nearly come in contactthere with. ,lxpcrience has shown that unless the gnide plates are madeto span the space en= tirely between the roll'sets the natural tend encyof the rolls, in revolvin to throw the feather, &c., out of and abovethe plane of feed will cause the feather at times to be projected overthe guide and away from the act ion of the machine. llence it isimportant that the guides be arranged substantially as shown to preventany such irregularity in operation. Again, it will be noted that thelower rolls, a, are provided with slight grooves or indentations intheir surface, which, when feathers are being assorted, serve to seatthe rib of the feather to prevent its turning, and to position it, sothat the leather shall pass straight and evenly through the machine. Asthe feather is fed into the bite of the first set of rolls, a. u, therib takes into the groove of roll (I, holding the feather steady, sothat the plume or vane will be held securely in the bite and the featherevenly advanced by rotation of the rolls. As the tip of the featheremerges it turns slightly upward and bears against the guide-plate B,which acts to steady the feather, so that it will pass directly and inan approximately straight line toward and into the bite of the next setof rolls, by which eo-operation of the guides it is evident that themeasurement of the feathers and their consequent distribution accordingto size is rendered more accurate. If the feather be too short to spanthe space between succeeding sets of rolls, it drops down into the binor compartment beneath arranged convenientlyto receive it, and when asufficient number thus assorted has accumulated the feathers are removedand bunched for future use.

It is plain that in a machine thus constructed the lower set? of rolls.placed at varying distance apart, is the efficient means for effectingthe desired separation, the upper set of rolls and the guides operatingin conjunction to present a continuous flat surface practically tangentto the plane of the lower set, and coacting with said lower set, first,to advance the feathers by the bite of the rolls thereon, and, second,to secure the accurate iulmeasurement thereof as they pass from bite tobite. The upper series of rolls may have the gearwvheels c omitted, ifpreferred, in which event they will move merely by frictional contactwith the passing feather; or, instead of having the upper series ofrolls, it is an obvious modification that these may be entirely omittedand a continuous plane-guide extending from end to end of the machine beused, although the results thereby attained are not so satisfactory aswhen the machine is constructed after the manner heretofore detailed.Such continuous plane-guide may consist of a movable endless belt, asillustrated in Fig. 2 of drawings, said belt l) passing over rollers (I,mounted transversely in proper bearings near the ends of the machine,and having preferably the gear-wheels d on their axles to mesh with likewheels 0 of the rolls 1!, so as to partake of like motion therewith. Theoperation of such endless belt will be essentially the same as that ofthe guides and rolls heretofore detailed, and need not be more fully setout. \Vhen the endless belt is employed, the intermediate rolls of thelower se rics may be left free to rotate by frictional contact with thepassing feather, &c., or else may be fixed, and may have the form of arounded quarter section, as at 0-, Figs. 2 and, 4, or a straight strip,as at (1, Figs. 2 and 3.

vlt is generally desirable that the lower rolls, or their equivalents,as described, be provided with. cross-grooves or serrations in theirfaces next in contact with the feather to more certainly position thefeather in its passage; but approximately good results may be obtainedif such be modified or entirely omitted.

For convenience of observation the guides B are usually made of glass;but this is not necessary, for any material suitable to the purpose maybe used, the single precaution being taken to have the face of theguides of the frame, &c., quite smooth, so as to avoid any obstructionto the free and uninterrupted progress ofthe feather, &e.

Other modifications may be made in the ma chine as herein describedwithout departing from the spirit of theinvention. Thus in lieu of theflat guide B, a series of parallel wires may approximately span thespace between the sets of rolls, said wires being at such distance apartas to admit the feather-tip be tween them, which said tip will therebybe held from turning and the feather be caused to pass in direct linefrom bite to bite. Pan allel ridges corresponding in character to saidwires may be likewise formed on the surface of the endless-belt guide,and with like effect.

At the front of the machine there may be a set of three rolls, E, ofrelative diameter and direction of rotation, as shown, these rollsserving to bend the feather permanently as it passes therethrough towardthe first set of rolls of the assorter, so that in subsequent stages ofits progress it will turn upward and impinge against the guides; thusinsuring cer tainty in its feed. This is of much importance where thepassing feather is from the tail of the fowl and has its rib split,since such feathers have naturally a tendency to droop at the tip, whichtendency needs to be counteracted.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an assorting-machine, the combination, with the series of rolls orequivalents, arranged at varying distance apart, of the horizontal guidemechanism located above the same, substantial] as described 2. In anassortinganachine, the combination, with a horizontal guide, ofmechanism for advancing the materials to be assorted longitudinally ofthe machine, substantially as described.

:5. An asserting-machine the separating devices of which are grooved orserrated and are arranged transversely to the path of the material beingassorted, substantially as described.

4. In an assorting-machine, the combination, with the separating-rollsarranged at varying distance apart, of the horizontal guide extendingessentially from roll to roll, sub stantially as described.

In an asserting-mac]line, the combination, with the separating-rollsarranged at varying distance apart, of the horizontal guides and rollslocated in an essentially continuous plane above the same, substantiallyas described.

In testimony whereof I. have hereunto set my hand this till] day ofDecember, A. l). 1ss2.

SAMUEL M. PARK.

\\' it nesses:

JAMEs H. rinses, J No. G. ELLIOTT.

